On This Teacher’s Day, Meet The Good Samaritan Teacher Who Gives Lessons On Saving Life

On This Teacher’s Day, Meet The Good Samaritan Teacher Who Gives Lessons On Saving Life

One needs to be incredibly lucky in our country to receive immediate help from bystanders in a road accident. Prof. Naveen, a faculty at Delhi University’s Shri Ram College of Commerce has been constantly trying to prove the notion wrong and is a fitting role model for us on this Teachers’ day. Prof. Naveen had been trained in Basic Trauma Life Support program by SaveLIFE Foundation in 2010 and has since then rushed to help whenever he has been near the scene of an accident. He has been instrumental in saving the lives of many, including a young man in West Delhi recently.

Unfortunately Prof. Naveen’s story is a rare example of bystander care in our country where close to 400 people die in road accidents every day. According to the Law Commission of India, 50 percent of these deaths can be averted if the victims receive immediate medical care. Fear of legal and procedural hassles, coupled with lack of knowledge and right training compels even those who wish to help to look the other way. It’s not really bystander apathy, but the systemic gaps, which, rather than enabling us to help others, create deterrence.

Pursuant to the Supreme Court order in the matter SaveLIFE Foundation v. Union of India (AIR 2016 SC 1617), the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a notification, with guidelines to protect and encourage Good Samaritans. In its judgment on March 30, 2016, the Hon’ble Court incorporated these guidelines and invoked its inherent jurisdiction under Article 141 and 142 of the Constitution of India to make the guidelines binding on all States and Union Territories. Theoretically, with this landmark judgment, no person can be hassled in the form of repeated police questioning, detention at hospitals or prolonged court proceedings. However, the common man is not yet fully aware of these new rights.

This is where teachers can play a crucial role. The fact that rules exist but awareness does not, calls for teachers educating children and youth about the existence of these guidelines, and how they can be an important agent for potentially changing the destiny of an injured person on the road. Apart from the usual important lessons on road safety that we hear in schools – stop at red lights, wear a seat-belt or helmets – children must also be made aware of the consequences of road accidents, how one can be of help in any eventuality, and the fact that one is protected by law if s/he wishes to help a person in need.

On this Teachers’ Day, we need to celebrate teachers like Prof. Naveen but also remind ourselves that we need many such Prof. Naveens who can help bring about a positive change in the society and motivate more Good Samaritans to come forward and save precious lives.

57-Year-Old Businessman From Mumbai Turns Good Samaritan Delivering Free Meals To The Elderly

Partner Story

Even at 76, Pradip Burman, the zestful chairman of Mobius Foundation radiates a contagious enthusiasm when he is talking about sustainability. The environmental crusader, better known to many as the great-grandson of Dabur founder Dr S.K.Burman, has devoted substantial attention towards promoting the concept of sustainability in all aspects of life. He refuses to conform to the convenience and comfort in today’s world which ultimately adds on to the adverse effects of climate change.

Talking to The Logical Indian, Burman emphasised why sustainability as a concept is indispensable for us. “We ought to be aware of what lies ahead of us. Soon we will finish the oil, iron, tin, and coal, and our next generations will be left with nothing. Recycling, banning plastics, stop felling trees for paper… This should become a part of everyone’s lifestyle,” he urges.

Mr Burman watering a sapling at the tree plantation drive organised by his non-profit Mobius Foundation

Traditional wisdom and modern research

A mechanical engineer from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, Burman had always nurtured a keen interest in helping the society, as evident from his graduation project of designing a sonic aid for the visually challenged, which detected obstacles in the way using ultrasonic wave signals.

As an executive for the nature-centric company Dabur, Burman has always opted for natural alternatives to solve his everyday problems like taking Ayurvedic medicine to cure his Arthritis. He later launched the veterinary wing for Dabur – Ayurvet – which provides nature-friendly solutions for animal health care.

A patron of the ancient scientific wisdom of India, Burman always hailed the confluence of “traditional knowledge and modern research”, which he advocated as the Ayurvet motto.

Ayurvet is one of the best ventures by Mr Burman

As part of the CSR initiative of Dabur, Pradip Burman founded SUNDESH (Sustainable Development Society) which has been tirelessly working for last 25 years in remote villages for uplifting the rural communities in an environmentally sustainable way.

An advocate of sustainability

Burman believes that sustainability is the indispensable mantra for the world at present. Due to uncontrolled utilisation of the planet’s resources by human beings, the world today stands at a juncture of destabilisation. Today the human race has reached the pinnacle of progress but the advancement is happening in a very unsustainable manner.

Through energy-efficient use of everyday essentials like transport, communication, altered habits of diet, clothing and daily living, some crusaders of sustainability try to reduce their carbon footprint. Pradip Burman’s Mobius Foundation is one of the forerunners toward sustainability goals.

Mobius Foundation aims to change the sustainability dynamics

In 2015, Burman paved the way for the start of Mobius Foundation, focused on sustainability. Named after 18th-century German mathematician August Ferdinand Mobius, the famous Mobius strip has an important philosophical significance. The extraordinary shape symbolises balance and union.

Similar is the essence of Mobius Foundation which wishes to enhance the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” principle to a widespread basis in India, helping generations to come.

Founder Pradip Burman wishes to achieve notable development in education, population stabilisation and renewable energy projects.

A dream school in the making

At Coorg, Pradip Burman’s Mobius Foundation is constructing the World Environment School, Coorg (WESc) where the curriculum will surpass the boundaries of books and classrooms, with a special focus on hands-on learning in close collaboration with the environment. Amidst the pristine natural beauty of Coorg, the school will nurture young minds to grow up into future green leaders. As of now, the school will be open to teenagers, welcoming students from standards 6 to 12.

Needless to say, World Environment School will be the first-of-its-kind not only in India but also in entire South Asia. The school is expected to start from March 2020.

The school promises to nurture the responsible behaviour of citizens of our future.

The Sustainability Conference of 2019

In 2019, the Mobius Foundation has planned an international conference, on the lines of the celebrated earth summits over the past decade. The 2019 International Conference on Sustainability Education (ICSE 2019) aims to bring together environmental activists, practitioners of sustainable development as well as climate change experts to help develop a sustainability-focused curriculum.

It is surmised that the conference will give a platform to innovative concepts of Sustainability Education including an essential change in the existing education system ensuring a wholesome personal development for a student.

The Sustainability crusader

The Mobius founder strongly believes that it is high time to sprout sustainability awareness among a society drowning in consumerism and unknowingly doing irreparable harm to the planet, every second. The best way to achieve this goal is through education which is available to all. At present, the education system is predominantly career-oriented, making the learners a victim of materialism, and thus, their dreams are also outlined in those colours.

Living beyond the limits

When asked about his wish to attain the age of hundred, he strongly asserts that more than becoming a centurion, he wishes his life and work continue to better the society even in his absence. “I have lived my life. I wish that whatever I start before I go, will continue – for the betterment of my country,” says Mr Pradip Burman.

He is also a trustee of the Climate Reality Project – India (affiliated to Mr. Al Gore of the Climate Reality Project Foundation, USA). Climate Reality Project, India, has been actively engaged igniting the spark and spreading the message of climate change amongst educators, policy makers and civil society. The India branch looks after more than 500 trained Climate Leaders, and more than 900 volunteers spread all over the country.

In his journey, Pradip Burman has been a beacon of hope for millions, motivating many to join the movement for sustainability. We wish he continues his tireless efforts for promoting sustainability awareness and inspire generations to come.